Bhalla lays foundation of deep drill tube well

To deal with drinking water scarcity in Jawahar Nagar and its adjoining areas, Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla today laid foundation of deep drill tube well at Narwal Pain, coming up at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.24 crore under water supply scheme Jawahar Nagar by PHE ground water department.

Mr. Bhalla assured the inhabitants of Jawahar Nagar, Jeevan Nagar, Narwal Pain and Ajeet Nagar and its adjoining localities that with the dedication of 1000 gallon discharge capacity per hour tube well, there is no drinking water scarcity even on the tail end of the areas. He asked the PHE authorities to put their sincere efforts in completing the project within stipulated time frame so that the people could get relief from overcome scarcity of the drinking water.

The Minister said that their development related issues would be redressed in a phased manner, adding that focus of the Government is to develop all the periphery basties on modern lines by providing all basic amenities like safe drinking water, power, better roads, bye-lanes, drains, besides educational and healthcare infrastructure.

For providing better place to morning and evening walkers, Mr. Bhalla said Government has earmarked Rs. 1 crore for development of 1-km long recreational park at Narwal Pain. He said that the upcoming park would add to the beauty of Jammu district which was being projected as a major tourist attraction. He said the place would have landscaping, illumination, construction of walkways, flower beds with irrigation facilities, drinking water reservoir and seating.

Earlier, Mr. Bhalla visited Channi Rama and inspected the ongoing construction work of multipurpose community hall, for which Government has earmarked Rs. 30 lakh. He asked the R&B department to complete the project within prescribed period so that the people of the area could avail the benefit of such facilities by arranging social as well as religious functions on nominal fee.

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Encroachments of Wet Lands

Bhalla denies charges, to visit spot

Speaker to depute Assembly panel to probe encroachments of wet lands

 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA and former Minister Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari today alleged that 500 kanals land worth Rs 5 crore was being encroached upon by filling wet land in his Pattan constituency and other places. He got instant support from Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone, who said, he too had reports of similar nature and no action has been taken despite the fact that he spoke to Deputy Commissioners of Baramulla, Bandipora and Srinagar besides the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir.

Even though Mr Lone had asked Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla to come up with a statement in the House tomorrow, the Minister made the statement in the Assembly in second sitting today itself denying any encroachments.

The Speaker, however, said that a three member House Committee would visit the spot to assess the situation. Mr Bhalla as also Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani announced that they would be visiting the spot personally to assess the situation.

Mr Ansari raised the issue in the Assembly after the Question Hour saying the Revenue Department was charging Rs 1 lakh per kanal for filling. "About 500 kanals land was being filled in my segment, which means that Rs 5 crore have been charged by the Revenue Department

"I spoke to the Deputy Commissioner but he said it was private land. Our agriculture land, water land are evaporating. Please save Kashmir from party politics. Encroachers are looting the State. The Chief Minister should give a directive for stopping encroachments of land. If the issue was not resolved within a week, I will go on fast-unto-death’’, Mr Ansari said.

The Speaker said he too had reports of clear cut violations of all revenue and other land records. Revenue bodies have also connived even as it was a case of water bodies protection, he added and said the land was also serving as protection for flood.

"I had talked to Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Bandipora and Srinagar and then the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. There appeared to be some lacunas as no action was taken. It (the encroachments) was a continued process’’, Mr Lone said.

Mr Bhalla assured Mr Lone and Mr Ansari of an inquiry into the entire issue. He said the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and all concerned Deputy Commissioners would be directed for action.

The Speaker directed Mr Bhalla to seize all vehicles engaged in construction activity even if the land was Government or private and report to the House tomorrow. Title of the land shouldn’t be changed strictly, he said.

In his reply to the House during second sitting of the Assembly, Mr Bhalla said land measuring 118 kanals at village Trigam, 237 kanals in Rakh Asham and 13 kanals, 18 marlas at village Shilvat were recorded as wet land (Gair Mumkin Talab).

The Revenue field agency was deployed on spot for stopping conversion of land, if any. However, no such encroachment by way of filling was carried out on the locations. Moreover, previously filling in village Shilvat was started by some land owners, which has already been stopped. At present no such encroachment on wet land was reported in Tehsil Sonawari, district Bandipora, Mr Bhalla said.

He said the DC Baramulla has reported that Reyaz Ahmad Bhat and others had approached the office of the DC with an application for allowing them for improvement of their land making it cultivable by way of earth filling as they intended to convert Banjar land into orchard by earth filling.

"A report in the matter has been obtained from Tehsildar Pattan, who reiterated that the land under reference was barren—Banjar Qadeem and was not agricultural. Besides, it remained filled with water supporting the growth of ‘Pechi’. The application under reference was forwarded to Tehsildar Pattan for taking necessary action under Land Revenue Act subject to the condition that Section 133 of the Land Revenue was not violated and to ensure that the matter was not sub-judice before court of law’’, the Revenue Minister said.

He added that the applicants had sort the permission on the basis of an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar pursuant to the order issued by the division bench of the High Court in similar cases falling at village Rambirbagh adjacent to the land under reference.

"The MLA Pattan (Mr Ansari) has already been apprised about the facts when he had expressed his resentment on this issue. It is worthwhile to mention here that the Court of J&K had restrained the office of Deputy Commissioner for taking any further action in the matter by virtue of order dated 19-9-2011 in the case Reyaz Ahmad v/s State and others.

"As per the report of Tehsildar South, Srinagar, no encroachment by way of filling is going on in Halqa Panzinara, which was adjacent to Pattan and Sonawari. However, a road was under construction from Mirgund to Trigam under MGNREGA scheme, where filling was going on’’, Mr Bhalla said.

He added that explicit instructions have been issued to the Deputy Commissioners to restrain the people in general and miscreants in particular from violation of provisions of Section 133 of Land Revenue Act.

After Mr Bhalla’s statement, the Speaker decided to constitute a 3 member committee, which would inspect the places in Pattan constituency where some persons were allegedly filling wet lands, thereby posing a threat to ecology and environment.

Mr Ansari contested the statement of Mr Bhalla saying that the report given by the Revenue officers was not based on facts. He suggested that a committee of members should be deputed to assess situation on spot and stop filling of wet lands in the area.

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Bhalla lays foundation Community Hall

Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Mr.Raman Bhalla on Monday laid foundation stone of ` 25 lakh double-storey Multipurpose Community Hall at Bhour Kullian.

Interacting with the people, Mr. Bhalla said the project would be completed by September this year with the facilities of kitchen, toilet and lawn. He said on the completion of Multipurpose Community Hall, the people, particularly poor lot of Bhour Kullian, Bhour Camp, Bhour Pind and Bhour Kothey would be able to arrange religious as well as social functions on nominal fee.

He asked the accompanied RDD Engineers to use quality material, adding that the Government has resolved to develop durable assets across the State.

The Minister asked the officers to cancel the allotment of those contractors who have not completed the works within prescribed time frame and allot fresh one so that the ongoing projects could be dedicated to the people well in time for their use.

He said there would be no comprise on the quality and delay in the completion of projects, adding that Government was committed to provide all infrastructural facilities to the people without any hindrances.

Listing the projects taken up in the locality and its adjoining areas, Mr. Bhalla said ` 4.77 crore have been allocated for construction of two Primary Health Centres (PHCs), one each at Lower Gaddigarh and another at Bhour Camp, adding that the hospitals nearing completion, would be dedicated to the people soon with all latest healthcare facilities at par with Gandhi Nagar hospital.

To ease rush at Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital in Shalimar, the Minister said a 6-storey maternity hospital, costing ` 100 crore, is being constructed at the available land near Government Gandhi Nagar hospital, adding that the project would be completed by next year.

Mr. Bhalla said Government has earmarked ` 50 lakh under State Plan for construction of cremation ground at Bhour Kullian, adding that the project is under progress. He said the cremation ground would be completed with the facilities of cremation shed, waiting shed with benches, bathing ghat (Tootian) for ladies and gents, drinking water storage reservoir, approach road besides boundary wall.

Responding to the locals demands, the Minister announced ` 8 lakh for construction of lanes and drains near Kabir temple in Bhour Kullian. He asked the executing agency to complete the project within stipulated time frame.

Regarding construction of left out lanes and drains at Bhour Camp Bhour Kullian, Bhour Camp, Mr. Bhalla said a plan of ` 1.80 crore for upgradation and construction of all the lanes, drains and nallah was already under execution and ` 22 lakh have already been released for early start of upgradation work on seven lanes including drains.

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Mahamaya Forest Land Scandal

DFO, Tehsildar, cops among land grabbers
Over 270 kanals Forest, JDA land grabbed near Golf Course, Mahamaya forest

Over 270 kanals of land worth crores, belonging to Forest department, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and State Revenue department has allegedly been grabbed by some persons including a few influential persons with the political patronage in Sidhra and Dwada area, near Golf Course and adjacent to the Mahmaya temple in Bahu Range across river Tawi under Jammu Forest Division.

In just last couple of years, despite tall claims of the Forest department having cleared several land encroachments in this particular area, a massive land encroachment has taken place in planned manner under the very nose of J&K Forest department and the officials of the Jammu Development Authority. One can notice the innumerable newly raised concrete structures on that side of the river Tawi in the foot hills of the Mahamaya forests up to the Golf Course in Sidhra while moving from DC office side on Circluar Road towards Nagrota Bypass bridge on river Tawi.

The fresh startling disclosures came to light when a few local villagers led by one Alam Din, son of Noor Din of Dwada in a fresh complaint filed before the Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla, Forest Minister Mian Altaf and Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr Pawan Kotwal, narrated that some people from Doda, Kishtwar, Srinagar, Uri, Anantnag and a few other places, have grabbed huge State and Forest land in Dwada, Sidhra and near Mahamaya Forest of Bahu Forest Range. They pointed out that even some of the land grabbers are working in Revenue, Police and Forest departments. Under the very nose of field staff including Foresters, Range officer, DFO and some higher officials from Forest, Wild Life and JDA as well, this encroachment was going on for the last more than four to five years. Even the JDA/ Forest teams visited the area many times but they have not got the land cleared.

It was pointed out that once the Forest and District administration teams along with police had tried to get the land vacated about two and half years back but with the half-hearted approach of the departments, the task was left half way, following some political pressure. The land grabbers had also shown strong resistance during operation. But the influential land mafia managed to get the concerned field staff transferred from this jurisdiction and got the other appointed there to shield them and watch their interests. "The only green strip, considered to be the life line and lungs of the city population, is being butchered mercilessly while those appointed for the protection there are maintaining criminal silence, apparently behaving like part of the mafia", the villagers said alleging that several times VIP vehicles, official Gypsis are seen in the area when the construction work goes on clandestinely.

While providing the list to the Divisional and the District Administration along with the Number Khasra etc., Dwada villagers pointed out that nearly 280 kanals of the land around Golf Course, Dwada and Sidhara area besides downhill the Mahamaya Temple has been illegally grabbed and majority of the people belonging to Kishtwar,Uri, Ramban, Doda and Kashmir area. The list provided to the Administration indicated that nearly 64 kanal area has allegedly been grabbed by one Zora Begum, 20 kanals by Master Mohd Yousuf, 12 kanals by Haji Faiz of Srinagar, nearly 50 kanal by Hakim Din of Kishtwar and 50 kanal by Mohd Yousuf of Kishtwar and 25 kanal area by Liaqat Ali Fauji from same area.

It was further revealed that area measuring 10 kanals each has been in the illegal possession of Hashim Din of Kishtwar, Mohd Hanief of Kishtwar, Bashir Ahmed of Kishtwar, Farooq Ahmed Police Constable, Abdul Latief Police Constable and Abdul Samad of Kishtwar, nearly 12 kanals of land has been grabbed by one Forest Officer of the DFO rank, five kanal by one Tehsildar, 12 kanals by Master Abdul Karim of Doda, 8 kanals by Master Noor Mohd of Doda, five kanasl by Tasveer Shah of Uri, 2 kanals each by SRTC driver Muzaffar Hussain, Master Ishfaq, Master Naseer and Shakeel Ahmed, five kanal each by Master Mohd Hussain of Doda, Qasim Din of Ramban, Zulaf Khar Constable, four kanal each by Saar Din of Doda, Abdul Rashid of Kishtwar and 3 kanal each by Rashid Ahmed of Srinagar, Abdul Hamid of Srinagar and Sattar Hussain. It has been mentioned that some of the people have further sold a portion of this land and many others have encroached even less than one kanal of the land in the area. Some senior police officials have kept the land under the name of their PSOs.

Minister for Forests and Environment Mian Altaf when contacted said that this problem had come to his notice about a year back and concerned officials were directed to get the land vacated. He however, claimed that a major portion of that land also belonged to JDA. He admitted that matter was well in his notice and some area was also got vacated. But he maintained that his Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu, S C Sharma will be better knowing about the issue and asked to get in touch with him as he was about to catch his flight for Delhi.

Minister for Revenue and Relief Raman Bhalla, said most of the land under the illegal possession of the people in Sidhra Golf Course area, belonged to JDA and Forest. He claimed that area of State land (Nazool) in the possession of land mafia was not much. He however, said that Task Force has been constituted under the Divisional Commissioner Jammu to identify the land and hand over to the concerned departments. He said CCF Jammu, DC Jammu, VC JDA, SSP, AC Revenue and DFO concerned are the members. He said Revenue department had not much at stake there as most of the State land there now stand transferred to JDA. Mr Bhalla further said that there are nearly 50 to 60 Khasra numbers under which the area of both Forest and JDA/ State land falls and keeping in view this technical status a Sub committee under Tehsildar Jammu is also framed to identify the land and hand it over to the concerned agencies. He said that he will get examined the performance of work from the DC Jammu. He maintained that cooperation of all the concerned departments is needed to get the land vacated.

VC JDA Sarita Chauhan when contacted by this correspondent claimed that she had no knowledge about any such complaint or land encroachment in that particular area. She said, "let the report come to me and then I will look into the matter". She claimed that as per her knowledge no JDA land was encroached upon there and maintained that she was not prepared to divulge any thing in this regard to anybody. DyCM, Tara Chand, however, was not available for the comments, when contacted.

DC Jammu Sanjeev Verma said that matter pertaining to encroachment in that area was already in his knowledge. He said a committee stood constituted for ‘Nishan Dehi’ of the land in question there. Mr Verma said he has yet to look into the fresh complaint in this regard. He further pointed out that majority of the land under illegal occupation of people belonged to JDA and Forest.

The area of State land was negligible. However, the process of identification was in progress. He said officials from Forest and Wild Life have also been involved in this exercise.

Bhalla introduces bill to amend Transfer of Property Act

Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla today introduced in the Legislative Assembly a bill to amend the Transfer of Property Act, 1977.

In the statement of objects and reasons, the Minister said that 1000 Mega Watts Pakaldul, 600 MW Kiru and 520 MW Kawar Hydro Electric Projects on river Chenab are being developed by Joint Venture Company of State Power Development Corporation, NHPC and Power Trading Corporation on BOOM basis.

The MoU was signed by the State Government with NHPC and PTC on October 10, 2008 on the sidelines of the inauguration of Baglihar HEP-I in the presence of Prime Minister, he said, adding as per the MoU without prejudice to J&K Land Laws, the JVC will have exclusive rights over the projects.

Moreover, as per the Clause 10 of the MoU, the lease hold rights of the land required for the projects against payment of land revenue as fixed by the State Government will be granted initially for a period of 40 years, in accordance with the State law, and on the expiry of the period, the lease will be renewed for a further term not exceeding 40 years at a time subject to the maximum period of 90 years.

"The JVC has finally been registered and started functioning but it has been felt that the land has not been formally transferred to it for which a necessary provision is required to be incorporated in Section 140 of the Transfer of Property Act by way of amendment for carving out an exception in the favor of the company titled as Chenab Valley Power Projects (Private) Limited", the Minister said.